The key facts
- Monkeypox is transmitted mainly through close contact with a carrier, their bodily fluids and objects
- The infectious disease specialist warned that a mutation of the virus could make it more dangerous
- Rospotrebnadzor urged observing precautionary measures; experts see no risk of an epidemic in Russia
How the Virus Is Transmitted and Why the Mutation Is Dangerous
Monkeypox, unlike influenza or coronavirus, is not transmitted airborne — it is believed that infection is possible only through close contact. Infectious disease specialist Andrey Pozdnyakov told Rossiyskaya Gazeta about this. The main route of infection is bodily contact with a carrier of the virus, their bodily fluids, as well as with objects they used, such as towels and bedding. At the same time, the specialist warned: if the virus mutates so that it becomes easier to transmit airborne and its pathogenicity simultaneously increases, the situation could become dangerous — it will spread faster.
Rospotrebnadzor Recommendations
Rospotrebnadzor urged Russians to observe safety measures: limit contact with animals in endemic countries, primarily with primates and rodents, not to use other people's towels and loungers, not to contact people suspected of having the virus, wear a mask and wash hands thoroughly.
No Risk of an Epidemic
Despite the cases of the disease detected among Russians, there is no risk of an epidemic, experts believe. Professor of Pirogov University Murad Shakhmardanov explained that the broad masses of the population who do not have close contact with carriers will not be able to catch the virus. The detected cases are connected with the fact that the incubation period of the disease reaches 21 days, so after returning from an endemic country a person may not know for a long time that they have fallen ill.
Symptoms and Treatment
Among the main symptoms, specialists name fever with a temperature often above 38.5 degrees, severe headache and muscle pain, enlarged lymph nodes, as well as a rash on the face, arms, legs, in the groin and on mucous membranes, gradually spreading throughout the body. Treatment is symptomatic; as a rule, a person recovers within two to four weeks. Antiviral drugs are used in severe cases of the disease or with a weakened immune system.
Case in the Moscow Region
The Moscow Region Health Ministry previously reported the hospitalization of five people who had contact with a patient suspected of having monkeypox; according to media reports, they all lived in the same apartment. Later, tests of all five residents of the Moscow Region showed a negative result. Rospotrebnadzor also previously explained how the mild form of the disease progresses.
